Nautilus UnderSea Liveaboard Overview

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Elena Vivaldo
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
Traveller. PADI scuba diving instructor. SEO copywriter working with many clients across different time zones since 2018. Elena has been hooked on diving since she was...
Rebecca Strauss
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...
Nautilus UnderSea liveaboard yacht at anchor on calm open water
A liveaboard like this trades day-boat commutes for direct access to remote reefs, with a small group and dedicated crew for the entire trip.
Aerial view of the Nautilus UnderSea liveaboard anchored near a rocky coastline
A small group and a dedicated crew mean direct access to remote reefs, no day-boat commute required.
Aerial view of the Nautilus UnderSea liveaboard cruising past coastal cliffs
Trading the day-boat commute for a dedicated crew and direct access to remote dive sites.
Nautilus UnderSea liveaboard anchored beside a rugged coastline
The dark hull and rugged build are signature touches across the Nautilus fleet, made for expedition-style diving.
School of hammerhead sharks swimming through sunlit water
Hammerheads school in Socorro Island from November through May.
Diver swimming alongside a humpback whale underwater
Encounters like this are part of why divers head to Socorro, known for reliable big-animal sightings.
Dining salon counter set out with food aboard the Nautilus UnderSea
An open dining area encourages guests to get to know each other.
Close-up of a bunk bed with pillows in a Nautilus UnderSea cabin
Built-in reading lights above the bunk make it easy to unwind after a night dive.
Bunk cabin with an open door leading to the ensuite bathroom
Each cabin comes with its own ensuite bathroom, a comfort not every liveaboard offers.
Lounge area with sofas, bookshelf and TV aboard the Nautilus UnderSea
The lounge doubles as the briefing room, with dive references and charts close at hand.
Liveaboard vessel Undersea Hunter at anchor under overcast skies
The Nautilus UnderSea sails year-round, offering jaw-dropping dive tours to Socorro Island and other hotspots in Mexico.
Diver in a cage watching a great white shark approach amid a school of fish
Cage diving puts you face to face with a great white without ever leaving the safety of steel bars.

The Nautilus UnderSea sails year-round, offering jaw-dropping dive tours to Socorro Island and other hotspots in Mexico for face-to-face encounters with whales, sharks, and giant mantas.

But the Nautilus UnderSea offers much more than amazing dive expeditions. Oozing with history, the boat was first used in 1968 as an oceanographic research vessel. It was also later used by explorer Dr. Silvia Earle, also known as “Her Deepness,” and it even featured in the James Bond movie “License to Kill” (1989).

In 2017, Nautilus UnderSea was rebuilt to meet today’s safety and comfort standards and found a new life as a liveaboard in Mexico. Stretched to 105 feet (32 m), the Nautilus UnderSea has a capacity of 19 people. It is intimate yet spacious and has all the modern amenities you’d expect on a liveaboard.

This is a legendary dive boat that still retains its original character, offering some truly inspirational diving experiences, so keep reading as we dive into our review of Nautilus UnderSea.

About this overview

To help you decide whether this liveaboard fits your dive style, budget, and comfort needs, we’ve researched the boat, itinerary, onboard experience, diving setup, and overall value.
We review liveaboards based on the details that matter most during a multi-day dive trip, including cabins, food, crew support, dive operations, safety, route quality, and how the boat compares with similar options in the destination.

Things we like:

  • Legendary dive boat
  • Rebreather-friendly
  • One wheelchair-friendly cabin
  • Pelagic interactions

Things we don't like:

  • Alcoholic beverages not included
  • Port fee not included ($35pp)
  • Mexican 5% VAT not included
  • National park fees not included

Diving on the Nautilus UnderSea liveaboard

School of hammerhead sharks swimming through sunlit water
Pair of dolphins swimming together in open water

Sailing year-round, the Nautilus UnderSea offers exciting itineraries around Socorro Island and other diving hotspots around Baja California.

Diving in Socorro means coming face-to-face with different species of sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and whales. To see these beautiful pelagic creatures means tackling strong currents, so the dive trip is only suitable for advanced divers. But the challenging dives are sure to satisfy all dive junkies and seasoned divers.

Socorro Island is only accessible via liveaboard between November and June and the Nautilus UnderSea does roundtrips there from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

During the rest of the year, the Nautilus UnderSea offers other encounters with big marine life in the Sea of Cortez and Magdalena Bay, where you can see seals, whales, and striped marlin during Mexico’s Sardine Run.

Dives are done from the dive water-level platform on the back of the boat or from tenders. Nitrox is available at an extra cost, and the Nautilus UnderSea can also cater to rebreather divers.

 Highlights:

  • Big marine life
  • Strong currents
  • Rebreather-friendly
  • Prime diving location in Mexico

Onboard the Nautilus UnderSea

Blue sofa lounge area aboard a liveaboard yacht
Bunk bed cabin with built-in wardrobe aboard the Nautilus UnderSea

With a capacity of 19 people, the Nautilus UnderSea has nine ensuite and air-conditioned cabins. Although it’s smaller than a lot of other liveaboards in Mexico, there are various spaces for guests to unwind in an intimate setting.

On the lower deck, there are six staterooms with upper and lower beds. On the main deck, you’ll find one triple stateroom, and one accessible cabin for people with mobility issues. On the sundeck, there’s the premium suite with a TV, multiple windows, and extra storage space. The beds can be configured into one large bed or two singles.

Social areas include the air-conditioned salon on the main deck, with couches, a small library, a computer, and a bar. Guests can also unwind on the sundeck, where there are sun loungers and a hot tub.

Taking up most of the main deck, the dive deck features lots of room for divers to get ready. There are also lockers and a huge camera table, perfect for photographers and videographers.

The huge, water-level platform makes entries and exits easy.

Highlights:

  • One wheelchair-friendly stateroom
  • Hot tub
  • Huge water-level dive platform

Dining onboard the Nautilus UnderSea 

Cozy wood-paneled bunk cabin with reading lights aboard the Nautilus UnderSea
Dining salon counter set out with food aboard the Nautilus UnderSea

As a liveaboard operating in Mexico, the Nautilus UnderSea serves a fusion of Mexican and West Coast North American food. With 30 days’ notice, chefs can also cater to special dietary requirements, like gluten-free, vegan, any food allergies, etc.

Apart from dinner, meals are served buffet-style. There’s a pre-dive continental breakfast, with baked goods, fruits, and other light food. Then you have breakfast, with a mix of buffet and cooked-to-order dishes.

Lunch includes deli-style sandwiches, Italian-style pizzas, fish tacos, burgers, and fajitas. Dinner is served either buffet-style, plated, or family-style, and includes tacos and a variety of other meat and seafood.

Outside of meal times, there are plenty of snacks, like homemade cookies, cheese and cracker plates, nachos, vegetable platters with dips, and ice cream.

Tea, coffee, sodas, and juices are included in the price. The Nautilus UnderSea also has a fully stocked bar with a variety of alcoholic beverages, such as wine, champagne, vodka, tequila, and beer for an extra charge.

 Highlights:

  • Mexican and continental menus
  • Caters to special dietary needs
  • Buffet-style meals
  • Alcohol not included

Things we like:

  • Legendary dive boat
  • Rebreather-friendly
  • One wheelchair-friendly cabin
  • Pelagic interactions

Things we don't like:

  • Alcoholic beverages not included
  • Port fee not included ($35pp)
  • Mexican 5% VAT not included
  • National park fees not included
Key facts
Year built: 1968
Max divers: 19
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: Yes ($)
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes ($)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: 5-7 Nights
Price range: Mid-range
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